Feed control for automatic screw machines



June 5, 1945. S K 2,377,383

FEED CONTROL FOR AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINES Filed Jan. 19, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMA W L June 5, 1945. A. SLOVAK 2,377,383

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J vv 105 6 muuzi oil 9 300 anode Zulu w Q .PM SOO w mm D mI ZNDIGM Patented June 5, 1945 R AUTOMATIC SCREIW MACHINES FEED CONTROL F Andrew Slovak, Rockford, Ill.

Application January 19, 1942, Serial No. 427,230

17 Claims. (Cl. 164-38) This invention relates to automatic screw ma- The invention also resides in the novel mechanism employed for controlling the movements of the stock stop in timed relation to the machine cycle.

Other objects and. advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 4 are fragmentary views illustrating various steps in the improved method.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the headstock on one end of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the movable head on the opposite end of the machine. a

Fig. '7 is a section taken along the line '!-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the collet drivemechanisms.

' Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the actuators for the collets, the movable collet head and the tools.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the cutting tools and their mountings.

Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line lI-ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a time chart.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and may be practiced in various ways, I have illustrated in the drawings and will describe here in detail the preferred embodiment and method. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention 'by such specific disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions and methods falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

As illustrated in Figs, 1 to 4, the method of controlling the stock advance in accordance with the present invention involves the use of the 'usual feed finger ll, hollow rotary collets or clamps l2 and I3 for gripping the rotating stock M on opposite sides of a tool l5 which is fed transversely of the work to cut off the advanced end portion IS. The method comprises generally applying the clamps I2 and I3 to grip the stock on opposite sides of the tool I5, advancing and retracting the tool as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to-cut'off the leading end portion l6, and form a finished work piece [1, axially advancing the clamp is to a position shown in Fig. 2 determined by the length of the work piece, releasing the clamp l2 and advancing the feed finger II to advance the leading end of the stock until it comes against the trailing end is of the preceding work piece I! while the latter is held by the clamp. l3, releasing the latter clamp and retracting the same to a position opposite the advanced stock ahead of the tool, and finally applying this clamp. By thus holding the stock end, the work piece is cut off cleanly and no burrs are formed. At the same time, the finished work pieces are kept clean and separated from the chips.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7; the stock l4 ex- .tendsthrough the usual guide sleeve supported in ablock 2| at the outer end of the headstock frame 22. Beyond this sleeve the stock projects through a sleeve 23 which constitutes the'shank of the feed finger whose spring jaws 24 grip the. stock immediately behind the collet 12. At its end, the feed sleeve 23 is journaled in a bearing 25, the outer race of which is supported in a head 26 threaded onto the sleeve 26 and connected by a key 21 to a block 28 slidable parallel tothe stock on stationary bars 29 (Fig. 8). The block has a T-slot 30 along which a bolt 3| is adjustable. This bolt supports a bushing 32 projecting through a. slot 33 and pivotally connected to a lever 34 fulcrumed on a fixed pivot 35. The free end of the lever is connected by a link 36 to a lever 31 pivoted at 38 (Fig. 9) and having a'follower roller 39 riding in a slot 40 of a barrel cam 4|. This cam is fixed on a sleeve 42 rigid with the driven member 43 of a onerevolution clutch 44 having its driving member 45 on a shaft 46 carrying a gear 41 which meshes with the gear 48 and is driven through the medium of a jaw clutch49 normally engaged by a spring .50. A gear 5| fast on the clutch driver is driven through a gear 52 through the medium of a friction clutch 53 on a shaft 54 belt driven from the main drive motor 55. The clutches 49 and 53 may be engaged and disengaged by manipulation of handles 56 and 51.

Each time the one-revolution clutch 44 is released in the manner to be described later, the .cam 4| makes one revolution and the-lever 34 is actuated to retract the block 26 and therefore the feed finger and then after a short dwell advances the finger through a distance determined by the adjusted position of the bolt 3| along the slot 30. Usually this distance will be slightly greater than the overall length of the work piece.

The collet I2 is of ordinary construction comprising spring jaws 58 disposed within a sleeve SI and adapted to be squeezed together to grip the bar by axial shifting of the sleeve during which a tapered surface 60 thereon acts on an inclined surface 59. The sleeve BI is slidable in a power driven sleeve 8| which is supported by bearing II! in the main frame. It is connected through a pin 62 to a ring 63 inclined on one side as shown at 64 and cooperating with a similarly inclined end 68 on a sleeve 61 inform a groove 65 in which balls 66 are located. The sleeve 61 is enclosed by a sleeve ll which carries a ball bearing I2 and is shifted to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 by a yoke I3 (Figs. 8 and 9) acting on the outerbearing race. In this movement, 9. surface 10 cams the balls inwardly, separatmg the parts 63 and 61. and the resulting axial movement of the sleeve 6I closes the collet, as shown in Fig. 5. to grip the bar. In thereverse movement of the yoke, that is, to the left,

the surface I0 permits the balls to expand and the spring stress in the jaws opens the latter. The yoke 13 is carried by an arm I4 pivoted on a rockshaft 15 in the main machine frame 22 and arranged to be actuated by a hand lever 90 or by cam actuation of an arm I6. The latter carries a follower 'IiI which engages a groove 18 in the barrel cam H. The cam surfaces of the grooves 40 and I9 ar correlated to permit the feed finger II to be retracted while the collet is closed followed by opening of the collet while the feed finger is being advanced and finally to again close the collet.

The parts of the machine thus far described are typical of those commonly used in automatic screw machines for advancing a stock bar stepby -stepand cutting off the. end portion of the stock beyond the main collet I2. As pointed out above, the present invention contemplates the use of the auxiliary collet I3 rotated in synchronism with'the main collet and operating to grip and support the advanced end of the stock while it is being cut off and :then to advance the cut-0E piece axially to a :position determined by the length of the work piece next to be formed so that the trailing end of the cut-off work piece may serve as a positive stop to limit the next advance of the stock bar by the feed finger.

As shown, the collet I3 is of the same general construction as the main collet I2 and like parts are indicated by corresponding primed numbers. Since this collet is to be shifted axially, the bearings II'I' of the main spindle sleeve BI are supported-in a member 85 which is mounted to slide on the main frame of the machine parallel to the work and collet axes. Herein this member comprises a casting (Figs. 6 and '7) having bottom flanges II8 which slide in ways II9 formed on the main frame and spaced from the .end .of the headstock.

To open and close the collet, the outer race of the bearing 12' is engaged by a yoke 63 (Figs. 6 and 8) on a U-shaped member 84 pivoted at 84* on the head 35. An arm -66 on the member 64 is connected by a link 61 having a slidable connection 89 with a rod '88 which is supported by arms 9I fast on a rockshaft 92 on the main frame. The lower end of the link 81 projects through a depending boss 90 on the bottom of the head 85. The opposite end of the rockshaft carries a second pair of arms 93 (Fig. 9) having rollers 94 and 95 that follow cams 96 and 91 which are fast on a shaft 98 and circumferentially adjustable relative to one another to provide a dwell between the openingand the closing of the collet I3. As the camshaft turns clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 9, the cam 96 opens the collet I3 and after a dwell, the cam 91 rocks the shaft 92 reversely to close the collet.

In order that the opening and closing of the collets I2 and I3 and the actuation of the feed finger II may be nchronized, the cam shaft 98 is driven from e feed camshaft 46. This drive includes a pair of spiral gears 99, a transverse shaft I00, worm gearing IIII, a shaft I93, and pickoff gears I04. The camshaft 98 also times the operation of the one-revolution clutch 44. For this purpose, a cam I91 mounted on the shaft I05 iscoupled to the shaft 98 by one tooth jaw clutch I08. A lobe I99on the cam is arranged to engage a projection III! on a follower arm III pivoted on a stationary pin II: and rigid with an arm II3 which will be depressed each time the lobe I99 passes the projection III). Such movement of the arm II3 retracts a pin II4 which allows the clutch 44 to engage under the action of a spring H6. The pin III rides in a cam groove I06 and after nearly one revolution, one cam surface IIB engages the pin whereupon the driven clutch member 43 is shifted axially to disengage the clutch jaws 85 the revolution is completed.

To shift the head along the ways II!) to move the collet I3 axially back and forth, a cored-out extension I22 projects from the outer end of the head (see Fig. 6) and risid at its end with a. nut I24 threaded onto the end of a tube I-2I which is supported at its other end in a lug I29 depending from the head. Within the tube is a compression spring I21 which acts between s. plug I26 and a wall of the main frame 22 and thus tends to shift the head to the right, as viewed on a rockshaft I3I.

in Fig. 6. This movement is limited by engagement of a flange I25 on the tube with collar I28 which bears against pins I29 of a yoke I36 feet At its other end, this shaft carries afollower arm I32 (Fig. 9) bearing against the periphery of a cam I33 which is fast on the shaft I00 and therefore rotates counterclockwise. Thecam is contoured to advance the head against theaction of the spring after the collet II has been opened, the extent of this motion being determined by the adjustment of the tube I2I relative to the nut I24.

It will be observed that each work piece is pushed on through the collet I3 in the retraction of the latter to the left as viewed in Fig. 6. The piece is thus delivered to the coned end I66 of a tubular magazine I64 sized according to the neath the tool I5 and within the head 65 has a spline connection I39 with'a tubular shaft I journaled in the head and connected to the spindle 8,I' through gears I4I having the same ratio as the gears I38. The connection I39 permits the head to shift axially while the spindle 8| continues to rotate.

In the present instance, the tool I5 effects the final cutting off of the advanced end of the stock to form the work piece and the major portion of the metal is removed by a form tool I which is shaped to form the desired contours on the trailing end I8 of the work piece and on the leading end I6 of the stock. These tools are clamped in the desired positions on holders I46 and I 41 slidable on ways I48 provided by a bracket I49 fastened to the end of the headstock housing 22 beneath the collet I2. The tool holders are thus adapted to slide transversely of the'stock and perform their cutting functions by entering the stock from opposite sides. The outer ends of the tool holders I46 and I 47 are adjustably connected by screws I50 to circular racks I5I and I52 meshing with gear teeth on the upper ends of arms I53 and I54 which are actuated respectively by cams I55 and I56 fast on the shaft I05. lfhe arm I53 is pivoted at I51 on the headstock housing and connected by a link I58 toa lever I59 fulcrumed on a fixed pivot I60 and carrying a roller I6I engaging the cam I55. The arm I54 is also fulcrumed at I60 and a roller I62 on its lower end bears against the periphery of the cam I56. The cams are shaped to rapid approach, feed, and rapid return the tools I5 and I45 in the sequence shown on the time chart.

Operation The cams I33,- 18, 96, 91, 40, I56 and I55 are shaped to time the advance and retraction of the head 85, the opening and closing of the collets I2 and I3, the advance and retraction of the feed finger II, the form tool I45 and the cut-off tool I5 in the sequence shown in the time charts which show one complete cycle of operation. In tracing this cycle, it will be noted that the tools I5 and I45 and the head 85 are actuated by cams which rotate continuously whereas the opening and closing of the collets I2 and I3 and the advance and retraction of the feed finger II are controlled by cams which are driven through the medium of the clutch 44 so that the cams make one revolution during the portion a of the cycle. At the time when the clutch 44 becomes engaged by withdrawal of the pin II4, the par-ts will be conditioned as shown in Fig. 1, the cut-off tool I5 having just completed its operation. At this time, the collet I2 will be closed on the stock bar and the collet I3 will be gripping the last cutoif work piece, both collets rotating in synchronism. In the first part of the cycle, the feed finger II and the cut-off tool I5 are retracted as indicated at b and 0. At the same time, the cam I33 advances the head 85 as indicated at d carrying the last cut-off work piece forwardly a distance equal to the length of this work piece. The parts will then be positioned as shown in Fig. 2, both collets remaining closed. In the latter part of the head motion the cam 78 operates to initiate opening of the collet I2 as indicated Thus, in the advance of the finger the leading end I6 of the stock engages the trailing end I8 of the preceding work piece, the frictional character of the gripping engagement between the stock and the feed finger permitting the latter to overtravel slightly and thereby insure that the stock will be advanced fully to the position shown in Fig. 3. Next the headstock collet I2 is closed to grip the advanced stock bar as indicated at g and substantially simultaneously the collet I3 is opened as indicated at h. Then the cam I33 operates to return the head as indicated aty' during which the advanced end I6 of the stock constitutes a stop for pushing the line of work pieces through the magazine I64. In the final portion of the revolution of the clutch 44, the collet I3 is closed by the cam 91 as indicated at is thereby gripping the advanced end of the bar which is thus held in readiness for advance of the tools. The form tool I45 first advances as indicated at m to shape the trailing end of the work piece next to be formed as well as the leading end of the succeeding work piece. Actual cutting engagement with the work takes place as indi. cated at it during which the clutch 44 becomes disengaged as indicated at t, and the cut-off tool is rapidly advanced at o and then fed into the work at p. Before the cut-off is complete the form tool is retracted as indicated at r, the parts thus being returned to the position shown in Fig. l in readiness for starting the next cycle by en-I gagement of the clutch 44 as indicated at s.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of controlling the stock advance in an automatic screw machine having a cut-off tool and stock clamps on opposite sides of the tool, said method comprising applying said clamps to the advanced stock to grip the latter on opposite sides of said tool, advancing and retracting said tool to cut off the end portion thereof, advancing the clamp holding the cut-oif end through a distance predetermined by the next length of stock to be cut off, releasing the other clamp, advancing the stock to bring the leading end against the trailing end of the previously cutoff piece, releasing said first. clamp and retracting it to a position adjacent said tool, and applying both of said clamps to grip the advanced stock.

2. The method of controlling the stock advance in an automatic screw machine having spaced stock clamps, said method including the steps of closing said clamps to grip the advanced stock, cutting off the stock between said clamps, advancing the clamp holding the cut-off end through a distance predetermined by the next length of stock to be cut off, releasing the other clamp, and advancing the stock to bring the leading end against the trailing end of the previously cut-off piece.

3. The methodof controlling the advance of a bar of stock which comprises gripping the bar at spacedpoints along its length, cutting off the bar between said points, maintaining the gripping force on the cut-off end, advancing the grip;

ping means through a distance. predetermined by the next length of bar to be cut off, and advancing the bar until the leading end comes against the trailing end of the previously cut-01f piece.

4. The method of controlling the advance of a bar of stock which comprises gripping the bar at spaced points along its length, cutting off the bar between said points, maintaining the gripping force on the cut-off end, advancing the gripping means to a. position predetermined by the next length'of vbarto becut off, releasing the for movement axially of the bar between a first position overlapping said leading end and a second position spaced from this end, mechanism operable to shift said collet to said second position after a .piece of said bar has been cut ofi and to said first position after the next advance of the bar, and means disposed within said collet while the latter is in said second position and operable to provide a stop positively limiting the next advance of said stock bar.

17. The method of cutting off successive lengths of a bar in a machine having axially spaced rotary collets one of which is fixed and the other of which is shiftable axially, said method comprising advancing the bar through said fixed collet, gripping a portion of the advanced bar by said fixed collet and the leading end of the bar by said shiftable collet, cutting oiT the bar between said col1ets,- moving said' 

